A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[OneMountainAcres]

The first time I heard her do it, I was herding them back in to their coop. The last couple times she did it, she was just standing on the poop board looking at me. I would imitate her and she'd do it again lol.

Woke up this morning and it was 13° yuck! I knew it would be cold though. We drove 2 1/2 hours to harrisburg yesterday to go to the farm show there. When we were getting in the car to head home, we had our coats off. It was 58° and sunny! We just watched the temps drop as we drove home. By the time I got home to my house, it was 32° and starting to snow. Just not right!

 

[memphis]

Aurora...is it a bit higher in pitch? Annie will do a distinct three note call. A little higher in pitch and not very loud. The first note does sound a bit like a pigeon coo and is longer than the next two notes. She will do this if I'm herding her somewhere she doesn't want to go. Almost like a gentle protest sound.

 

[Turkey parents]

Ever since Jupiter passed away a couple days ago Mars has been depressed wandering around the place calling and hasn't talked to me much. I just took this picture she got up on my bed this morning and laid down next to my pillow

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralph - your turkeys are crazy! I can't wait to see the babies that JJ and Sidekick produce

I may make a roadtrip to get a couple of slate babies.... I'm sure they'd travel beautifully

Well I have to hit the road early in the morning to make my flight.

Darned if I don't have an egg peeping on my counter as I try to go to bed. It probably won't pip or survive, the timing is terrible. These eggs have certainly been put through the wringer. Poor dudes are in a shoebox under a heating pad with damp paper towels scrunched up inside for moisture. I can't give up on something that peeps at me when I talk to it

I have a brooder set up, just in case, since I won't have time in the morning to muck around. I have to admit I'm a wee bit upset with Blondie for leaving me with orphaned eggs at 20 days - we will not be doing this the next time she goes broody!

I know they would travel well...

There is a NPIP school here in March, I plan to go so I can legally mail chicks. I know they would make a flight to you for sure.

I hope your chick makes it. Bummer about having to leave when it is going to try and hatch.

And of course have a good trip. Ay the travels be easy. and hurry back to us.

 

[duluthralphie]

You guys were talking about turkey talk. Lately Sweet Pea has been making this weird noise and I'm clueless what it means. It sounds almost like a very feminine gobble or like a long pigeon coo. Any thoughts?

No idea, we are going to have to start trying to video our turkeys when they are talking and posting it. That way we can see if all our turkeys talk the same language. We can see if any of them have a southern accent, etc...

 

[duluthralphie]

I think that's a good idea to give Sidekick a few girls. Have you considered putting Porter in a pen with a few girls? Just until Coffee picks him up? He's gorgeous. Are you still considering adding a Bourbon Red or Royal Palm hen to the mix?

I have thought about it, (Porter) But I do not think I will be doing that. Coffee has said I can get porter eggs to hatch from her when the girls move there. I plan to do that. Porter has genes I want to continue. He is so large, so non-aggressive, his body is so tall there is a lot of room for meat there. Besides being a pretty color. But every color Porter can have so can JJ and Ethel.

I am hoping I get a Rusty Slate Tom from them this year. JJ is going to be 3 in April. R2elk says Toms only breed until about 4. ( or their fertility goes down) So I need a replacement for him. JJ will never grace a table, He will live here until he is gone. (If I am ever forced to get rid of him or Ethel, I will make sure hey go to a good home where they can free range together). JJ and Ethel are as close to Lappers as I get. They are my pets. For an old farm kid to say a turkey is a pet is a BIG deal.

I am going to bring some other birds into the mix. I have made a deal with Holm for some eggs. I so like the looks of his Tom and want it in a Hen.

BTW it has warmed up a lot today, it is all the way up to -13! It is going to be a nice day!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Turkey parents-I'm so sorry for the loss it's got to be so hard on all of you.

Memphis-no, it's not usually higher pitched.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ever since Jupiter passed away a couple days ago Mars has been depressed wandering around the place calling and hasn't talked to me much. I just took this picture she got up on my bed this morning and laid down next to my pillow

You know, she looks depressed in this picture. I think you need to find her a new friend Turkeyparents.

Did you ever figure out what happened to Jupiter?

 

[R2elk]

I am hoping I get a Rusty Slate Tom from them this year. JJ is going to be 3 in April. R2elk says Toms only breed until about 4. ( or their fertility goes down) So I need a replacement for him. JJ will never grace a table, He will live here until he is gone. (If I am ever forced to get rid of him or Ethel, I will make sure hey go to a good home where they can free range together). JJ and Ethel are as close to Lappers as I get. They are my pets. For an old farm kid to say a turkey is a pet is a BIG deal.

What I said is that Porter keeps his breeding toms until they are 3 or 4 years old. Others have said that their fertility goes down after that, I did not. My current tom was giving me 50% fertility at the end of his age 3 breeding season. In my opinion it had nothing to do with the fertility of his semen and all to do with him just playing around on the backs of the hens and never getting around to actually breeding them. To me it doesn't matter which is the reason as he will not be given an age 4 breeding season. I have had other toms in the past who were good and fertile well after their age 4 breeding season.

The best way to get a Rusty Slate tom this year is to get a Bourbon Red hen and breed her to Sidekick. A mating between a Self Blue and a Bourbon Red will produce 100% Rusty Slate poults and will introduce fresh blood into your flock.

 

[holm25]

Ralp whwnever u add new stalk always add females to keep your male line pure.